IWell Research Grant

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Title Page: 

WPI Center for Well-Being

Incubator for Well-Being Research and Innovation (IWell) Grant Application

Primary Applicant:

Department:

Co-Applicants and Departments:

Dimensions of Wellness Addressed in Project:

Total funding request:  $

Project title:

Goal of the project: (e.g. article, book, conference presentation, exhibit, etc.)

Duration of funded project:

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Please Include the following information in the application (to be uploaded in one attachment):

1. Summary of proposal (75 words max)

2. Project Description: Please provide a detailed description of the project, including the items listed below.  The project description should be no more than 5 pages, single spaced.
   1. Background and Rationale
   2. Project Objectives/Aims
   3. Research Methodology/Experimental Design
   4. Project Impact (Benefits and Evaluation)
   5. Project Timeline
   6. Bibliography
3. Project Staffing: Explain the roles, responsibilities, and relevant background of each member of the project team for contributing to the project’s goals.
4. What significant problem or need regarding holistic well-being is addressed by your project? Why is this important? Does the project address a gap in the existing literature on holistic well-being? What makes this project innovative?
5. Which of the 8 dimensions of well-being does this project address? How will this project advance understanding of that aspect of well-being?
6. Budget: Please utilize the budget template below for your application. Please upload detailed spreadsheets of your budget as part of your application. For each category, also provide a description and justification of the expenses. 

The IWELL Grant Application will be posted on December 1, 2025. The application deadline is February 2, 2026 at 4:59pm ET.    

The following is a timeline for the Incubator for Well-Being Research and Innovation application grant process:  

• All grant applications must include the name(s) and contact information for all WPI students, faculty and staff participating in the project and/or initiative.
• Questions about the grant proposals or application process can be directed to Paula Fitzpatrick, Director of the Center for Well-Being, pfitzpatrick@wpi.edu.

Application must include a detailed budget for up to $5,000 (using budget template) and a budget justification.

Eligible expenses include: 

1. Materials/Supplies – Capital expenses will not be considered
2. Faculty and staff compensation – Faculty and staff compensation is allowed if the proposed grant activity extends beyond normal expectations for teaching and professional development.  The budget justification must address this need in the application.  Compensation will be put into participants' paychecks, with half of the compensation at the start of the project and half at the end of the project.
3. Student wages – Wages for undergraduate or graduate students are allowed whenever appropriate. The budget justification should describe the student responsibilities, specify the hourly wage, and estimate the number of hours to be worked.  Wages for undergraduates must comply with the state minimum wage for undergraduate students and the graduate student union guidelines for graduate students.
4. Conference Fees
5. Honorariums or Transportation/Travel Costs
6. Research Related Costs
7. Food/Facility Costs: Food expenses up to $15 per person are acceptable. Please provide supporting information.
8. Other Expenses appropriate to the particular project

• Awards vary in amount according to the needs of the project, the number of applicants, and the money available. The CWB anticipates awarding four or five IWELL grants, with a maximum grant award of $5,000.   
• Grants typically will have a duration of 1 year or less and the project/initiative is expected to be completed during that period.
• If a project’s total budget is greater than the size of the IWELL grant, other sources of support must be stated.
• If the total grant award is not spent, the remainder will be returned to the CWB or a request for an extension of the grant award must be submitted. 

• An IWELL Committee will review the grant proposal applications and select the finalists by April 15, 2026.
• The proposals will be reviewed by faculty representatives from each of schools representing the departments from the applicant pool.  The following criteria are used to review and evaluate the proposals:
  • Intellectual Merit:  Ability to increase our understanding holistic well-being—factors that promote well-being and thriving, barriers to well-being and thriving, and/or how to mitigate these barriers.
  • Innovation and Contribution:  Demonstrate opportunity for advancing understanding of one or more dimensions of the eight dimensions of wellness.
• Applicants will be notified of application status by April 15, 2026. 

• Grant recipients will be asked to participate in an event to showcase their work during Arts and Sciences week 2028.
• Grant recipients are expected to track and report data demonstrating the project’s impact.
• Grant recipients will charge grant expenses to the gift Cost Center for the IWell grant with your designee code. All expenses are subject to WPI’s Business Expense Policy: WPI Business Expense Policy

• Grant awards will be monitored and administered by the Director of the Center for Well-Being, who will check in on a regular basis with grant recipients to verify progress and aid with any issues.
• Award recipients must submit an IWELL Project Outcome Report within 30 days of the conclusion of the project/initiative or by June 30th of the following year, whichever comes first. This report should detail the outcomes of the IWELL Grant project, including its successes, challenges, and a comprehensive comparative budget analysis.

Title: Interference Patterns: A Resonant Space (Interactive Art Installation)
Abstract:
Interference Patterns: A Resonant Space is an immersive, interactive art installation designed to raise awareness about mental health and well-being through movement, and sensory experiences. The installation creates a dynamic space that evolves in response to participants' engagement, emphasizing the role of dialogue, collective relaxation, and environmental stimuli in mental well-being. Using projections, motion sensors, and ambient soundscapes, the installation visually and sonically shifts between fragmented and cohesive states, representing isolation and connection. Integrated stations will provide interactive mental health resources, guiding participants toward reflection and awareness. The project involves student collaboration in its design, construction, and evaluation, fostering a sense of ownership and shared learning.

Title: Using the biomechanics of yoga poses as a framework for understanding mechanics in physics
Abstract: 
Biomechanics is essential for understanding the principles of human movement and structure. Combining physics, engineering, and biology reveals how gravitational forces interact with muscles, bones, and joints. In today’s rapidly evolving world, interdisciplinary studies have become crucial for students to develop a broad, adaptable skill set.
Integrating multiple disciplines enables students to solve complex problems, enhance critical thinking and foster innovation. In this proposal, we propose using two-dimensional force plates to analyze yoga movements, which can provide valuable insights into balance, stability, center of mass and weight distribution during different poses. By employing active learning techniques that connect body movement with physics principles, we will dismantle barriers to learning, enabling students to experience a new dimension of wellness that integrates STEM education and physical activity. Our tagline is “Embrace biomechanics to unlock your potential”!

Title:  "Thriving or barely surviving? An exploratory study to identify facilitators and barriers to students’ social and emotional wellbeing during IQPs abroad and the effectiveness of students’ social support networks”
Abstract:
IQPs typically require WPI students to spend two months off-campus, often in a foreign country, working on a sponsor-led project. This immersive experience presents invaluable opportunities for personal growth—emotional and social—and yet can also be tremendously stressful. This exploratory study will employ the socio-ecological model to identify facilitators and barriers to students’ emotional and social wellbeing during IQPs abroad, including examining if/how students’ social support networks help them thrive and cope during IQPs.